Traditional tumble dryers are to be banned and hard-pressed families forced to buy more expensive eco-friendly ones under new plans set out by Ed Miliband.
The Energy Secretary’s department slipped out plans to phase out the sale of gas-fired, air-vented and condenser dryers, to ‘ensure that only efficient heat pump household tumble dryers remain available for purchase’.
The move will bring the UK in line with the European Union, which introduced similar rules last year.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNEZ) says that the change will save families up to £900 over the lifetime of the appliance through lower running costs.
It also said it would cut Co2 emissions and energy use, ‘contributing significantly towards our net zero and energy security ambitions’.
But an investigation by Which? earlier this month found that while they have cheaper running costs they can be up to £200 more expensive to buy in the first place.
Critics say they also often take longer to dry clothes because they work at lower temperatures.
Earlier this month it was announced that around 85,000 UK households are set to receive a visit from a manufacturer due to fire safety concerns about heat pump dryers.
The Energy Secretary’s department slipped out plans last month to phase out the sale of gas-fired, air-vented and condenser dryers, to ‘ensure that only efficient heat pump household tumble dryers remain available for purchase’
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNEZ) says that the change will save families up to £900 over the lifetime of the appliance through lower running costs
An urgent safety notice was issued last year for models manufactured by Haier and also sold under the Baumatic, Candy, Caple, Vacuum, Iberna, Lamona and Montpellier brands.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) announced that a remedial programme to make the appliances safe would take place, saying: ‘The UK manufacturers have initiated a modification programme for products in scope of the safety issue.’
According to the alert, the products present a risk of fire as it is possible for an internal short circuit to occur within the tumble dryer during normal use.
This can cause the tumble dryer to ignite, causing a fire.
Claire Coutinho, the shadow energy secretary, told the Telegraph: ‘Why not let consumers choose whether or not that works for them?
‘This is the problem with our net zero legislation – it means Ed Miliband dictating what car people drive, how they should heat their homes and even what machine they can tumble their pyjamas in.’
A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesman said: ‘Energy efficient tumble dryers will save households up to £910 over their machine’s 20-year lifetime – putting money back into the pockets of hard-working people.
‘Every tumble dryer model on the British market must comply with stringent safety regulations. There are no current specific safety concerns with heat pump tumble dryers.’